The Tampa Bay Rays can re-take second place in the American League East tonight with a second straight victory over the Boston Red Sox. Corey Kluber (4-5, 3.52 ERA) will get the start, taking on Chris Sale, making his 2022 debut. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz DH
Ramirez RF
Bethancourt C
Paredes 3B
Arozarena LF
Choi 1B
Walls SS
Chang 2B
Phillips CF
Red Sox Starting Lineup
Duran CF
Vazquez C
Devers DH
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo LF
Story 2B
Cordero 1B
Dalbec 3B
Bradley RF
Bethancourt Gets Crash Course Behind Plate
Catcher Christian Bethancourt was able to join the team Monday when they returned from their 11-game road trip, and will see his first action tonight starting behind the plate. Manager Kevin Cash said the 30-year-old has gotten a crash course on the pitching staff over the last 24 hours.
“[Catching coordinator Paul Hoover] was excited just with the work,” Cash said. “Really excited that he even though he hadn’t had many maybe games behind the plate here as of late, he’s been doing consistent catching work and drills in between, catching bullpens. So I would expect it’ll be a pretty seamless transition for him.”
Bethancourt took the roster spot of Rene Pinto, who as optioned to Triple-A Durham. He and Francisco Mejia are expected to split catching duties while they determine if Mike Zunino could be ready to return at some point this season.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
